Shoulder Arthroscopy
Shoulder arthroscopy is minimally invasive surgical procedure that may be recommended by an orthopedic surgeon if a patient is experiencing a painful condition, like a rotator cuff injury, that does not respond to non-surgical treatment. Shoulder arthroscopy allows surgeons to diagnose and treat a number of shoulder conditions.
During the shoulder arthroscopy procedure, a surgeon inserts a small camera, called an arthroscope, into the patient’s shoulder joint. The camera allows the surgeon to view images on a video monitor. These images then assist the surgeon in guiding miniature surgical instruments.
The thin arthroscope and surgical instruments allow the surgeon to make very small incisions during the procedure, which can result in less pain, less joint stiffness and, often times, a shorter recovery time.
Conditions Treated Using Shoulder Arthroscopy
Shoulder arthroscopy is useful in treating and repairing a number of conditions and injuries, including:
Advantages of the Shoulder Arthroscopy Procedure
Utilization of an arthroscope has a number of advantages over traditional shoulder surgery, including: